Court documents reveal disturbing new details about the Brockport Central School District kindergarten teacher accused of possessing child porn.

According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Roland Yockel II told investigators he used a Hewlett Packard laptop computer to distribute and receive child pornography via the internet, and that he saved child pornography to two external hard drives and a series of DVDs.

While executing a search warrant on Tuesday in the Hilton home Yockel shares with his parents, investigators found numerous pair of children's underwear underneath his mattress. According to the court documents, Yockel admitted that he stole the underwear from the backpacks of children who were participating in a summer camp program where he worked as a camp coordinator. Yockel told police he used the underwear "as a prop to facilitate masturbation."

He denied ever touching his kindergarten students or any of the children in his care at camp, but said he did actively watch children in their bathing suits in hopes they would expose intimate areas.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi said more charges against Yockel could be forthcoming as the investigation develops.

Videos found by investigators in Yockel's nightstand contained video files — marked with the acronym "PTHC" for pre-teen hardcore — of female children between the ages of 5 and 8 years old engaged in sexual activities with adult males, including oral and vaginal penetration.

Yockel's online activities were traced back to his North Avenue home after a U.S. Department of Homeland Security special agents became involved earlier this year in a New Zealand child porn investigation related to use of the internet application Chatstep.com.

Rossi said the proliferation of child pornography online is alarming.

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"The internet has become a vehicle by which child pornography is traded at an incredible rate and volume," he said, noting numerous online chatrooms "where those who want to view, distribute and savor this material can do so."

According to the court documents, Yockel, 30, told investigators that he was "addicted" to pornography and admitted to using the internet to distribute child pornography.

Images Yockel is accused of posting on the Chatstep service include photos of pre-pubescent girls between the ages of 4 and 7 years old in various states of undress, with their genital areas exposed.

Investigators said Yockel told them he had sexual thoughts about his students, "but his job meant too much to him."

Additionally, investigators said, Yockel admitted to exchanging a video of himself masturbating in the shower with a 15-year-old girl who sent Yockel nude images of herself.

He also admitted to investigators that he previously engaged in inappropriate behavior with a girl between the ages of 5 and 7 whom his mother used to babysit. He said he would make the girl sit on his lap and that he would manipulate her clothing so he could see her "private parts" when he picked her up.

He told investigators he wanted to physically touch the girl, but that he never had the opportunity to be alone with her.

Yockel is scheduled to return to court Nov. 29 for a bail hearing. The charges against him carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He has been a kindergarten teacher at Ginther Elementary School in Brockport since August. The district has placed him on administrative leave and on Wednesday had counselors available from the Bivona Child Advocacy Center on hand for students, staff and parents on Wednesday afternoon.

Yockel had also worked as a substitute teacher in the Hilton Central School District. As well, he was a playground camp counselor for Hamlin Parks and Recreation's summer programs.

Eric G. Peters, Hamlin town supervisor, said staff there is cooperating with law enforcement. He said Yockel passed all the necessary background checks to work for the Recreation Department.

"Obviously at this point, he's not going to be on our premises or involved with anything we have going on," said Peters. "I'm as disgusted as a person can be about this."

Brockport school officials said they have no reason to believe that Yockel's arrest is connected with his employment or that any students were affected. Still "incidents such as this impact the school community and the district has made support available for students, staff and families."

Grace Griffee, a spokeswoman for the Hilton Central School District, said it has been more than a year since Yockel last worked for the district.

"Our first priority as a school district is the safety and well-being of our students," she said in a written statement. "So of course we have concerns about this situation. However, no victims have come forward at this time."

Hilton's Trauma, Illness and Grief Team is prepared to support any affected district families and the school system is working closely with law enforcement, Griffee said.

Rossi urged parents not to panic.

"There is no emergency here," he said. "You don't need to sit through Thanksgiving worrying about the safety of your children. But please do have some conversations."

He recommended parents seek information about how to broach the subject of personal body safety and appropriate touching with experts at Bivona Children's Center.

In a written statement, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. said that given Yockel's access to children, investigators are still working to determine if there are more as-yet-unidentified victims.

Rossi said anyone with verifiable information or evidence related to the case is asked to call Homeland Security at (716) 464-5923.

Kennedy said victim-witness specialists will be available to assist any parent or guardian should they need assistance.

Having difficult conversations

Deb Rosen, executive director of the Bivona Child Advocacy Center in Rochester, said having ongoing conversations with your child about personal safety is a true gift to the child.

“It’s really important for parents to have these conversations with their child before someone else does,” she said. “Sometimes a person who offends might say to a child ‘don’t tell your mom or Ddad because they’ll be angry or upset with you,’ but parents need to tell their child that 'You can tell me anything and I won’t be upset or angry with you. in fact I want you to tell me about anything that’s scary or confusing or makes you feel uncomfortable.'”

Teach kids it is “against the rules” for adults to act in a sexual way with them, and give examples.

Teach them what parts of their bodies others should not touch.

Be sure to mention that the abuser might be an adult friend, family member or older youth.

Start early and talk often.

Be proactive. If a child seems uncomfortable or resistant to being a particular adult, ask why.

Rosen advised parents who might be frightened or worried that Yockel, or anyone else, may have had inappropriate interactions with their child should first take a step back and prepare themselves for whatever their child might say, and be careful not to let their own emotions get in the way.

“Especially when talking about sexual abuse of children, many, if not most, people do not think about this and have not prepared themselves to have these conversations,” said Rosen. “It is critically important to be prepared. If a child makes a disclosure of something happening, parents need to be able to demonstrate that ‘I hear you, I believe you and it is not your fault.’”

For more resources on how to talk to children about body safety and abuse, visit the Bivona Child Advocacy Center at bivonacac.org or Darkness to Light at D2L.org